Anytime you come out on top of a field that includes the likes of Mick Fanning, Taj Burrow, and Julian Wilson you have to be pretty stoked. Combine that with a check for $25,000 and you have to think that 18 yr. old Owen Wright has to be on top of the world right now.

The wildcard contestant, Wright, overcame a stacked line-up to become the winner of the second annual Boost Mobile Surf Sho. The Australian Junior champion soared pass the field and capped off his performance with a 9.93 in the closing minutes of the 25-minute final to take home this year’s aerial crown.

“It’s hard to explain how good I feel,” said Wright. “I did a couple of good airs in the opening stages of the final, but couldn’t stick any. With a couple of minutes remaining the perfect ramp popped up and I sealed the deal. When I landed it I hoped no one landed anything bigger cause all the guys were capable of pulling a big move off. It feels great to win it.”

Conditions on the Gold Coast proved to be ideal for launching huge airs and provided an absolute show for the thousands of spectators. Although Taj wasn’t able to pull-off a repeat victory in this years event, he did liven things up a little by taking to the waves on a bodyboard and pulling out a 360. The whole weekend proved to be a blast and at the completion of the event’s action, contest organizers vowed to be back once again and go even bigger and better next year. Congratulations Owen Wright, the 2008 Boost Mobile Surf Sho champion!

The second annual Boost Mobile Surf Sho is set to kick-off this weekend and two more monster talents have thrown their names into the event. Bede Durbidge and C.J. Hobgood both confirmed they will be in attendance, giving an event that is already choked with world class surfers even more star-power. Hobgood and Durbidge will join a line-up that already includes current world-champ Mick Fanning, wonder-kid Julian Wilson, Ozzie Wright, Ry Craike, as well as last years Surf Sho winner Taj Burrow.

The whole event is set up to wow spectators with some of the more dynamic aerials and tricks that are coming into performance surfing. It’s great to see more of the top WCT surfers participating in an event that is completely geared toward progressive surfing. Bede’s participation has me especially excited to watch as I have yet to see much of the White Fijian’s aerial repitoire.

The event will be webcast this Saturday and Sunday. This is definitely an event worth taking a look at. Putting some of surfings top talent and just letting them boost air after air will keep anyone watching on their toes. The Boost Mobile Surf Sho is gaining momentum in only it’s second year and is becoming an event to annually keep our eyes on.

Heading into the inaugural Boost Mobile Surf Sho event around this same time last year, Taj Burrow was sitting on top of the world. Earlier that same week he had won the 2007 Bells Beach title to then hold the world overall no.1 ranking. This time around he is not quite where he had hoped to be following the Australian two-step, but he’s hoping a repeat victory at an event that will jump-start a run to his long awaited ASP world championship.

Pulling off another victory at the aerial show will be anything but easy for Taj. He’s up against a field that includes current world-champ Mick Fanning, wonder-kid Julian Wilson, aerial-artist Ozzie Wright, as well as young-gun Ry Craike in the innovative and entertaining ‘game show’ style event. Getting back into the winners circle, even though it won’t count on the tour standings, would be a huge boost to Burrow’s confidence heading into Tahiti

“It’s been the most frustrating start to the year because I feel I’m surfing well, I’m fit and I’ve got great equipment,” said Burrow. “I’d love to make up for it by reclaiming the Boost Surf Sho title. I’ve been practicing and working on some new flips so, hopefully I can get the jump on the boys again”

The Boost Mobile Surf Sho in itself is huge for surfing’s progression. What really caught my eye is the prize money. First place brings home $25,000(AUS), which is roughly $23,500(U.S.). That’s pretty solid for an event that is only in its second year of existence, especially when you consider that the stagnant prize money totals for WCT events are not that much higher. The format is geared to make the event spectator friendly, and this is something that the ‘CT events have struggled with at times. Putting world-class talent in an event and rewarding progressive surfing with a large purse will surely bring a display of maneuvers that will leave us all standing in awe.